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Meridiela.

Sisimiut

Greenland's second town, north of the Arctic Circle, with a 1775 church and a dog sledding tradition.

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Typetown
WhereWest Greenland
Nearest citySisimiut
Best seasonJune to September; March to May for sledding
Time to allowTwo days
Getting thereFlights from Kangerlussuaq and Nuuk; the coastal ferry
EntryFree; museum charged

Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland with around five thousand people, sitting north of the Arctic Circle on the west coast, and it is the northernmost town in the country with a harbour that stays open through the winter. The old colonial quarter holds the Bethel church of 1775, the oldest surviving in Greenland, alongside a museum in the old colonial buildings. It is the northern limit of Greenland's dog sledding district.

What you actually see

  • The Bethel church - the 1775 building, the oldest church in Greenland.
  • The colonial quarter - the old buildings holding the town museum.
  • The dog sledding - the town at the southern edge of the sledding district's northern half.
  • The ice-free harbour - the northernmost year-round port in the country.

When to go

June to September for hiking and boats. March to May is the dog sledding season with light and snow together. Winter is dark and very cold.

Honest expectations

Dogs are working animals here and the rules about approaching them are strict and serious. Flight connections are limited and weather cancels them regularly. Prices are very high.

Nearby

Kangerlussuaq is east along the trail, and Aasivissuit is inland.

What to pack for Sisimiut

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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